Supporters of the bill say it is aimed at improving the quality of life of people living near mosques who have been losing sleep. The calls usually begin sounding a little before 5 A.M. through loudspeakers mounted on minarets

Opponents say the legislation, sponsored by right-wing parties, impinges on the religious freedom of Israel's Muslim minority. Arabs make up almost 20 percent of the population and have long complained of discrimination.

Two versions of law won initial approval and will go to committee for further discussion before any final vote in parliament, in what could be a lengthy process.

"You are committing a racist act," said Ahmed Tibi, an Arab lawmaker, told supporters of the legislation.

Wait, what? I thought you were a racist idiot if you confused Arab as Muslim. So how is it that not allowing Mosques to violate noise ordinance leads to this statement: "Arabs make up almost 20 percent of the population and have long complained of discrimination."

I'd argue(have before) that unwanted intrusive sound could be assault. Everyone has different sensitivity levels in all their senses. Sound is measured in Decibels, which is the unit for *Sound Pressure Levels*.

All sound is waveforms physically hitting your ears. The military has weaponized sound before.

Is this intrusion no different? Not even taking into account the many different schedules people keep for our 24/7 modern world.

Islam is not a race. Arabs are Semites. However, Muslim Arabs would never admit that, even though they originate from the tribe of Ishmael. Anything to shut that horrid sound coming from minarets is a good thing. I hope they bulldoze all of them too eventually.